Necticut



N. H. ANDERSON.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, I914.

1 3 1 7,4 1 1 Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

2 SHEETSSIIEET I.

WITNESSES: 'IIVVENTOI? ATTORNEYS rm: um mum nmwlmlalunl c0, WASHINGTON, I). c.

N. H. ANDERSON.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED WM! 12. IBM.

PatentedSept. 30, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

I/V VE N TOR A TTORNEVS WITNESSES."

THE coLuMmA PLANDGRAPH 60-. \UASKYXNGTDN, D. c.

' .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NILS H. ANDERSON, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORTO THE NOISELESS TYPEWRI'IER COMPANY, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- ivncrrcur.

I TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application filed June 12, 1914. Serial No. 844,657.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NILs H. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown', in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type Writing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to typewriting machines and with regard to certain more specific features thereof to improvements-in key lever construction and mounting.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provideasimple and practical key lever having a desirable touch. Another object is to provide a mechanism of the above character which will be cheap to manufacture and install A further object is to provide a bank of key leversof the first above mentioned character so positioned and mounted as to enhance their case of move ment and reduce wear. A furtherobject is to provide'a mechanism of the last above Inentionedcharacter with varying adjusting devices whereby the quality of touch may be conveniently varied to suit the peculiarities.

of the particular operator. A further object is to provide a key lever mechanism practically applicable to Noiseless machines which will be eflicient in use and reliable in operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, andthe scope of the application of which will be indicated in lowing claims. In the accompanying drawings wherein is shown two of the. various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figures'l, 2 and 3 are side elevations of three key levers taken from three .banks of keys in their normalor inactive position;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing the pivotal mounting and an adjusting mechanism of one of the key levers;

Fig. 5 is a similar view with the parts in the 'folreleasing position;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. so, 1919.

Fig. 6, is a plan view of an adjusting'de vice for the entire bank of levers;

Fig. 7 is an elevational viewof the mechanism shownin Fig. 6; and

Fig.8 is an elevational View of a modified form of adjustingmechanism.

Similar reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views of the drawings.

While the present invention is particularly adapted for use in a Noiseles's typewriting machine and in relation to which it will be hereinafter described, it is, of course, to be understood that it is applicable to other forms of typewriting machines as Well. In this connection 'it'may be noted that the operating qualities of any machine are judged to a certain extent by the character and quality of the touch when the keys are depressed and'brought to rest at the end of their path of travel. It is desirable that this touchshall be pleasing and free from apparent hardness or blow when the key lever is stopped, or in other Words to provide a semi-resilient character to the touch which shall be less tiring upon the operator. While attempts may have been made to render the touch more or less elastic, they have been found to be unsatisfactory because of the fact that in actual use the impression on the operator is that a distinct effort has to be made to push the key downwardly at the end ofthe stroke against a considerable amount of elasticity. This results in the impression of materially increasing load on the finger at the end of the stroke, which is undesirable and tiresome. here is also a tendency for the pads to become packed after continued use and thus defeat their primary object. The present device is adapted to overcome the above objectionsand provide a more satisfactory mechanism, from both the mechanical. and operating standpoints.

Referring now in panying drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, each of the key leversl, 2

detail to the accom The lower part i is provided at its posite end isattached to an upper portion 5 of the key lever by suitable rivets 6v or if desired it may be electrically welded thereto. The upper part of the key lever is made of --relatively heavier or' thicker material than thelower part'as 'it performs all the be conveniently turned for disengaging the key levers, each key lever being provided With an opening. 12 which fits the wire in normal position and is held in contact therewith by means of a spring 13 which also acts as a return spring for the key lever. It will benoticjed from Fig. 5 that the release .lever has been swungzupwardly toward the rear of the machine substantially a quarter ofa revolution and in this position the key lever may be @conveniently removed by pressing the same rearwardly as shown, thus avoiding any lateral or vertical tilting movement. The key lever is provided with a small projection 1a, which when the parts are in'normal position, will prevent accidental displacement of the key lever and thereby normally relieve the return springs 13 from the rearward pressure exerted on the key levers.

lVhen the key lever is operated in the usual manner, it moves downwardly as a unit until it reaches the position when the forward end 15 of the upper portion of the key lever engages a stop bar 16 and is arrested thereby. NVhen the lever has thus been arrested its forward portion continues to be depressed slightly by the finger of the operator and the natural resiliency of the relatively light metal used in its construction supplies the feeling of softness or elasticity thereby eliminating the shock or jar usually felt by the operators finger.

In order that the key board may have auniform touch in this respect, it will be noted that in each of the three banks of keys, the lower portion of each key lever is of substantially the same length, but is attached to the upper part at varying distances from the fulcrum, so that when any of the three banks of keys is brought to rest by the stop bar, there exists the same qualities of resiliency.

In order that each bank may be provided with an equal dip,.the distance between theand produce the desired results in practice and at the same time the lighter portions possess such qualities of flexibility. and elasticity as to renderthe action or touch pleasing and less tiresome. It should also be noted that with the lower portion ofthe key lever made of comparatively thin metal, there is a certain amount of flexibility in the keys if the same are hit sidewise or out of position which would not exist in akey lever made of heavier or less resilient material.

The downwardly extending portion 20 of each key lever to which the return spring 13 is connected is provided with a series of notches 21 permitting the spring to be connected at any one of several places to per mit a very accurate balancing of all portions of the key board. The opposite ends of the springs are connected to a transverse horizontally disposed equalizing plate 22 which is attached by a swivel connection 23 with a'pull wire 24 which is adjustable fore and aft of the machine by a threaded nut 25 acting on the front comb member 27. By means of these adjustments of the return springs it is possible to equalize the spring tension on the banks of keys as well as to equalize the tension on the individual keys or the keys :of one bank. These adjustments are accessible from the underside of the ma chine and can 'be made without the use of any special tools. Most operators prefer a light touch to the machine. yet there are some who prefer a somewhat heavier touch and in order that the touch may be varied substantially at will from one to the other the entire keyboard may be adjusted simultaneously by adjusting the connecting link 24fore and aft the machine- As above explained the return springs of the several actions are connected to a plate which in turn is connected to thepull wire passing through a fixed portion of the machine such for example as the front comb member 27 and is adjustable by means of the nut 25. The plate to which the springs are connected being swiveled also permits acertain equalizing of the change of tension over the'whole keyboard. From the above description it is thought that the operation and manner of use of this mechanism will be clear, although a brief statement thereof is substantially as follows: i

When any key lever is depressed motion is transmitted through the lower or more resilient part thereof to the .upper or heavier part'whi-ch is designed to perform the actual work. The upper part 5 movesdownthe lower part being of a more resilient and elastic material has a very slight downward movement whichgives the desired softness or cushioningefiect to the touch, rendering the same more agreeable and less tiresome. l/Vhen it is desired to change the key lever, the release lever 11 at the end of the fulcrum wire is given a quarter turn and the particular key lever to be changed is moved rearwardly after which it may be disconnected from its associated parts and removed, the other key levers being held place by means of their respective return springs.

If one spring is found tobeweaker than another thus producing an uneven touch to the entire machine when that particular key is actuated, the quality of its touch may be varied by raising or lowering the end of the spring 13 to engage a different notch 21 in the downwardly extending arm of the key lever. If, however, it is desired to change the strength or touch of the entire bank of key levers the adjusting nut 25 in the forward part of the machine isrotated in one direction or another to move the pull wire connected therewith fore and aft of the machine which, through the equalizing plate will relieve or increase the tension exerted upon all of the return springs.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the key levers 5 are fulcrumed on a fulcrum bar 7 attached to a relatively fixed transverse portion of a machine and .re supported in their raised or normal position by return springs 30 engaging a' mall hole 31 in the under edge of the key lever. The opposite end of the spring is supported in a plate or bracket 32 f. and passes through a similar hole therein, it

of all the return springs may be adjusted simultaneously by means of'the adjusting screw 40, thus varying the touch of the'keyboard of the machine as a whole, making it lighter or heavier as desired. A construction of this kind is of a particular value due to the compactness of'the various parts and permits a relatively larger number of key actions'to be placed side by side in a given space, since the springs are substantially the same width as the key levers and their ends engage holes in the key lever and supporting plate respectively in the same vertical plane. A double coil construction of these return springs provides suflicient resiliency for the efiic ient and reliable operation of the device.

The operation and manner of use of this construction is substantially the same as that above described and it is believed to require no further explanation.

It i thus seen that this invention provides a simple and practical device having few parts which willbe cheap'to manufacture and simple or easy to install. The invention is believed to accomplish among others all the objects and advantages above set forth. I

As many changes could be made in the above "construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as-illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

llaving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In a typewriting' machine, in combination, a pivoted key lever comprising a relatively rigid fulcrumed' portion and a relatively yieldable finger key portion, and means to arrest pivotal movement of said rigid portion.

2. In a typewriting machine, a key lever composed of two parts rigidly connected together and arranged substantially in parallel one above the other, a finger key mounted upon the lower part, a connecting member mounted upon the upper part, the upper part being fulcrumed at its rear end. and a stop positioned for engagement with the upper part in advance of the connection with the lower'part.

3. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a key lever composed of two parts rigidly connected and arranged one above the other, a finger key mountedflupon the lower portion, and a connecting member mounted upon the upper portion, one of said portions being of material relatively yieldable with respect to the other.

the movement of said 4. In a typewriting-machine, incombination, a key lever composed of two parts, a

finger key mounted upon one of said parts, a connecting member mounted upon the other of said parts, said first-mentioned part .being of relatively lighter material thanthe other part, and a stop adapted to arrest second-mentioned part.

5. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a key lever comprising a fulcrumed portion-and a finger key portion, one of said portions being yielda-ble relatively to the other, and a fixed stop'to engage and arrest said fulcrumed portion.

6. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a key lever composed of two pieces of sheet metal of relatively different thicknesses arranged edgewise one above the other, the lower of said parts being provided with a key, a fulcrum bar connected with the rear endof the upper part, and a fixed stop to cooperate with the forward end of the upper'part.

7. In atypewr-iting machine, in combination, a key lever composed of two pieces of sheet metal of relatively different thicknesses and connected one above the otherin edgewise relation a connecting member secured to the upper part, a stop adapted to engage its forward end, and a fulcrum bar upon which its rear end is mounted.

8. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a pivoted key lever having a depending arm adjacent its aXisand in the plane of its body portion, and a return spring beneath said key lever adjustably connected to said arm. I

9. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers, each being provided with a projecting arm, a return spring adjustably connected with each of said arms adapted to permit independent adjustment, and a common tension adjusting means for all of said key levers.

10. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers, each being provided with a. downwardly projecting arm, a return springadjustably connected with each of said downwardly projecting arms adapted to permit independent adjustment, a common adjusting means for all of said key levers, a movable support to, which the ends of said adjusting springs are conneeted, and means for bodily moving. said support for adjusting the tension of said springs. 1 c

11. In a typewritii 9 machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers, each being provided with a projecting arm, a return" spring adjustably connected with each of said projecting arms adapted to permit independent adjustment, a common adjusting means for all of said key levers, a movable support to which the ends of-said adjusting springs are connected, a connecting link between said support and the front part of 'to which the opposite ends of said return springs .are connected, and a swivel connection between said plate and the forward part of the machine whereby the tension of the springs may be simultaneously adjusted.

13. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers, each comprising two parts arranged edgewise one above'the other, the lower part being provided with an actuating key. and the upper part having a connecting member, a stop for arresting the downward movement of the upper part, a fulcrum at the rear end of said upper part, an arm. having a plurality of notches on one of said parts, and a return spring for each of said key levers engaging one of the notches.

14. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers, each comprising two parts arranged ed gewise one above the other,'one part being provided with an actuating key and the other part having a connecting member, a stop for arresting the downward movement of one part, a fulcrum at the rear end of said part, anarm having a plurality of notches on {one of said parts, a return spring for each of said key levers engaging one of the notches, a support for the opposite end-of each of the return springs, and means for simu1taneously adjusting the tension of all of said springs. j

15. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality ofkey levers, each comprising two parts arranged edgewise' one above'the other, the lower part being provided with an actuating key and the upper part having a connecting member, a stop for arresting the downward movement of the upper part, a fulcrum at the rear end of said upper part, an arm having a plurality of notches on one of said parts, a return springfor each of said key levers engaging one of the notches, a support for the opposite end of'each of the return springs, and means pivotal bearings, a common fulcrum bar seated in said bearings and movable to look ing and releasing positions with respect thereto, and resilient means associated with each of said key levers for opposing removal thereof when said fulcrum bar is moved to releasing position. t

17. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers each having a hook portion at its rear end, a fulcrum member engaging the hook portion, means associated with one of said parts adapted to pre vent a longitudinal movement of the key lever with respect to said fulcrum, and return springs coacting with said key levers normally urging said key levers in a direction whereby they are held securely in engagement with the fulcrum.

18. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers each having a forwardly extending hook portion at its rear end, a fulcrum member engaging the hook portion, means associated with one of said parts adapted to prevent a rearward movement of the key lever with respect to said fulcrum, return springs coacting with said key levers normally urging said key levers in a direction whereby they are held securely in engagement with the fulcrum, and means for simultaneously changing the tension of all of said key levers.

19. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers having forwardly extending hook portions and proj ecting arms at their rear ends, a fulcrum engaging the forwardly extending hook portion of each key lever, and a return spring connected to the extending arm of each key lever adapted to hold said key lever securely on the fulcrum.

20. In a. typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers having hook portions and projecting arms at their rear ends, a fulcrum engaging the hook portion of each key lever, a return spring connected to the arm of each key lever adapted to hold said key lever securely on the fulcrum, and means for separately adjusting each return spring.

2-1. In a typewriting machine, 1n combination, a plurality of key levers having forwardly extending hook portions and downwardly projecting arms at their rear ends,

a fulcrum engaging the forwardly extending hook portion of each key lever, a return spring connected to the downwardly projecting arm of each key lever adapted to hold said key lever securely on the fulcrum, and means for separately adjusting each return spring.

22. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers having forwardly extending hook portions and downwardly projecting arms at their rear ends, a fulcrum engaging the forwardly extending hook portion of each key lever, a return spring connected to the downwardly extending portion of each key lever adapted to hold said key lever securely on the fulcrum, and a member to which the opposite ends of each of said return springs are connected, said member being pivotally supported whereby the tension of the key levers is equalized.

23. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers having forwardly extending hook portions and downwardly projecting arms at their rear ends, a fulcrum engaging the forwardly extending hook portion of each key lever, a return spring connected to the downwardly extending portion of each key lever adapted to hold said key lever securely on the fulcrum, a member to which the opposite ends of each f aid return springs are connected, said member being pivotally supported whereby the tension of the key levers is equalized, and means connected with said member for bodily moving the same for simultaneously varying the tension of all of said return springs.

24. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key levers having open pivotal bearings, a common fulcrum therefor, a single spring for each of said key levers acting to hold the same in operative relation to said fulcrum and to return the same to normal position, and a single means to adjust the tension of all of said springs jointly.

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

, in the presence of two witnesses.

NILS H. ANDERSON. Witnesses:

JAMES K. GUY, EDWARD F. SLAVIN.

copies of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents. Washington, I). G." 

